It's hard to believe that the Saturn automobile has been on our
roads for nearly seven years but the Saturn idea began long before that
- 1982 to be exact. The new company's philosophy included no-haggle
pricing, unusual marketing and a pleasant dealership experience for
shoppers. It became revolutionary concept that is only just now being
adopted by some used car mega-dealers around the country.

This week we test Saturn's entry-level coupe, the SC1, and find that
it's still a no-nonsense economy car with a very loyal following.

OUTSIDE - Saturn's cars are constructed in a unique way. Dent and
corrosion-resistant polymer body panels are attached to an unusual steel
space frame, which is very rigid, yet lightweight. But its body isn't
made entirely of plastic. The hood, roof and rear deck lid are steel,
which provides interior protection by absorbing energy during a crash.
The coupe underwent a slight styling change in 1995, and isn't scheduled
for a makeover until next year. It still looks relatively modern, and
has aged well considering the current crop of rounded cars available in
today's market. SC1 models come standard with 14-inch wheels with full
hubcaps, while this year a 15-inch aluminum wheel and larger tires are
optionally available.

INSIDE - Dual airbags and three-point seat belts replaced the
original awkward motorized belts, and the instruments are quite large
and very easy to read. The bucket seats of the SC1 are low, perhaps too
low for some drivers, but provide enough support to keep back fatigue
from becoming a problem during long-distance driving. A neat touch is
found in the space beneath the removable ashtray which becomes a
contoured cupholder, and all Saturn models come with a tilt steering
column. A split-folding rear seat greatly increases trunk space, which
is easily accessed since it features a low lift-over height. Our test
SC1 was outfitted with just the right amount of optional equipment: air
conditioning ($920), carpeted floor mats ($55), and an upscale stereo
system ($295). Buyers of Saturn's $1,815 "Package 1" will receive power
windows, door locks and right outside mirror, plus A/C, cruise control
and remote keyless entry.

ON THE ROAD - When the base Saturn models debuted in 1990, just 85
horses (about average for economy cars) were on tap. The SC1 is now
powered by a 1.9 liter inline four cylinder engine that gives 100
horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. New this year is a more emissions-
efficient sequential port fuel injection system, which replaces the
previous model's multi-port unit. Mechanically it's a spartan design
which uses a single overheard camshaft and two valves per cylinder, but
Saturn has gone to great lengths to quiet its engines. Where previous
models sent engine noise drumming into its cockpit at virtually any
speed, the new engines are audible only under heavy throttle.
Acceleration is good, too, and zipping into traffic won't cause panic.
Equipped with the standard five-speed manual transmission owners can
expect the SC1 to average about 35 mpg - quite a bit more under frugal
driving.

BEHIND THE WHEEL - SC1 uses four-wheel independent suspension with
MacPherson struts up front, and a link-type rear setup. On the highway,
the ride is predictable, but not especially smooth. Potholes in the
pavement transmit firm jolts inside (typical of an inexpensive coupe),
but a full load in back tends to smooth things considerably. The power
steering system gives plenty of road feel, but is somewhat heavy.
Uplevel Saturn models are equipped with speed-sensitive variable effort
steering, which works much better. New this year is the availability of
traction control on manual-transmission models using an anti-lock
braking system (ABS). Traction-control limits the amount of wheelspin
under acceleration, such as when accelerating on ice. It can be
de-activated as well, as some conditions warrant. Braking is achieved
with front disc and rear drum brakes, with ABS offered as an option.

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